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Original Post By:
KenK
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Date: 5/22/2016 6:37:28 PM
(Updated: 5/22/2016 6:38:55 PM)
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Hi ,I acquired an early Koa ukulele.19 � x 5 7/8 inch .At first it appears very primitive looking.But has Rope and 3 ring inlay around sound hole .The headstock is very unusual in its austerity.The thing that surprised me the most is that the heel of the neck is 2 piece like on a Spanish flamenco guitar.BTW Im certain this is from Hawaii as its full of those armadillo looking bugs that Ive found in my grandparents house in Honolulu.
I am adding a picture I found of an 1880 Uke at the Metrpolitan Museum(picture with white background). They claim theirs is one of the earliest known.Can you help with ID and value?
thanks
http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/kkagawa/Ukulele/story |
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Posted By:
Muttzukii
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Date: 5/23/2016 1:12:49 PM |
Ken, Actual picture of what you have is mobetta. A lot of times it is easy to think there is a strong resemblance that isn't so strong when viewed by an expert. Most frequent indicator of Hawaiian origin is when the back runs over the heel of the uke. Depending on where you live, you can walk it into your nearest shop [NOT Guitar center or similar] & get a quick opinion. You can pay for an appraisal from Elderly, Dusty Strings,& I'm sure several others. I'd advise spending the money if you want to establish true market value.
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Posted By:
Dave Means
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Date: 5/23/2016 1:21:59 PM |
Everything about it -- except for the headstock shape -- shouts Kumalae. The very early museum uke exhibits many of the traits of the Madeiran machete from which the uke was derived, like the "peanut" headstock and the relatively untapered neck. I don't think the "squared" headstock shape on your uke means that it is particularly early, as I've never seen that shape on a machete.
David "Kawika" Hurd has a database on his website at http://ukuleles.com/?page_id=526 that allows you to use certain characteristics and measurements to help identify old Hawaiian ukes.
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Posted By:
Dave Means
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Date: 5/23/2016 1:32:28 PM |
Muttzuki, while your comment about the back extending over the heel on most old Hawaiian ukes is generally true, it's not always universal -- especially if the instrument has been repaired. Looking closely at the closeup picture of the neck joint, it looks to me like the back extension may have been cut off during a neck reset.
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Posted By:
Muttzukii
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Date: 5/23/2016 2:42:05 PM |
Dave, My sense of the English involved is that the photo is not the instrument in question, but one that Ken says is similar. Having not seen the Photobucket item, perhaps I am mistaken.
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Posted By:
Dave Means
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Date: 5/24/2016 11:49:36 AM |
Ken's original post IS a bit confusing, but I finally figured out that the pic that comes up with the link is the museum piece he referred to (white background), and that the rest of the pics in the album are the uke in question.
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Posted By:
KenK
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Date: 5/24/2016 5:55:07 PM |
Yes the pics are of the uke Im trying to ID.Only the one with white background is an example of 1880.
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Posted By:
KenK
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Date: 5/24/2016 5:57:53 PM |
Anyone know about two piece heel of the neck?Is that indicative of anything?
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Posted By:
Dave Means
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Date: 5/25/2016 11:10:06 AM |
Two-piece heels are common on Hawaiian-built ukes of any era.
To me, the neck joint looks like it has been worked on, and the lack of a back extension over the heel would reinforce that notion.
Perhaps what you have there is a garden-variety Kumalae from the '20s or early '30s with a replacement neck.
Just speculating.
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Posted By:
New2Ukuleke
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Date: 5/29/2016 9:01:50 AM |
Hello, I also just recently acquired an ukulele from my grandparents. I neither play ukulele nor am I a musician. The ukulele I acquired looks just like the one in KenK's picture. Please tell me what this ukulele is worth so that I will be able to charge one of you the maximum amount possible when I sell it to one of you.
Thank you in advance.
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Posted By:
Dave Means
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Date: 6/1/2016 5:48:11 PM |
Maybe he is New2Ukuleke (whatever a ukuleke is), but he's certainly not New2Trolling.
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